Leaways School London provides a safe learning environment for children and young people who experience social, emotional and mental health difficulties. 

The school follows the national curriculum where appropriate and offers personalises timetables for all children and young people. The school fundamentally believes in opportunities for reintegration into mainstream education where possible. There is an opportunity for mainstream inclusion through links and partnership with local college’s for example Haringey Colen College or Hackney Community College.

Jamie**, a young person from Tower Hamlets came to Leaways School when he was in Year 5. Jamie previously attended a nearby mainstream maintained school however had been displaying some challenging behaviours which the school were struggling to support. He had become disengaged with education and was finding it difficult to interact with his peers and was feeling isolated.

Once the decision was made to move schools, he began a supported transition into Leaways Primary provision. The Primary provision young people are able to access a personalised curriculum built around key skills, special interests and nurturing their social, moral, spiritual and cultural development.

The trained and experienced staff are dedicated in identifying and focusing on children’s positive attributes, removing barriers to learning and helping them to identify and regulate their own behaviours. This approach helps children to change the negative experience many of them arrive with and prepare them for secondary education.

Jamie settled in quickly engaging with his school work and formed a close friendship group with the other children in the school. He learnt how to identify his own feelings and emotions and this enabled him to better control his behaviours. The friendship group transitioned into the Leaways Secondary school together, and gave each other ongoing support throughout this process.

It was at that point, due to the outstanding progress he had made both academically and socially at Leaways, that a mainstream placement could be considered for Jamie. Once a suitable school was found, the team at Leaways worked closely to prepare him for the move. They met frequently with the school SENCO and staff from Leaways went on transition visits to the school with Jamie. Our aim was to make the move as smooth and settled as possible.

The move back to mainstream school has gone exceptionally well, and Jamie is having a really positive experience at his new school. This success is because of the care and dedication from all of the skilled staff at Leaways School, and the hard work and effort from Jaime. Leaways School maintains excellent links with Jamie, family, the school and the LA are always there to help offer advice and support to ensure his school placement continues to be a success. Good luck to Jamie with his schooling and life in the future.